The Swine Brew

What’s more American than bacon, donuts and beer? For a nation that is bursting at the waistline, it was only a matter of time before somebody figured out a way to combine the three. Rogue Ales from Newport, Ore. did just that with their bacon maple ale named Voodoo Doughnut.

Rogue’s collaboration with the Voodoo Doughnut Shop in Portland seemed to be an artisan marriage made in donut-beer heaven. Combining the shop’s off-the-wall flavor combinations and Rogue’s bold flavor profiles, the two tried to capture the essence of a maple bar (with bacon strips) in a beer bottle.

The baker’s dozen of ingredients include three different types of smoked malts, real maple syrup and of course, Applewood-smoked bacon. As soon as the bottle is opened the aroma of maple and bacon permeates from its mouth. Its dark reddish brown appearance makes you wonder where the pancakes are. This is where the romance stops.

Like a Rogue wave, their maple bacon ale is relentless and completely out of left field.//Photo: Jason Ruiz

From the first sip the smoked malts dominate the flavor, making you feel like your mouth was the smokehouse with the Applewood chips. The saltiness of the bacon makes you feel like you’re eating a grand slam from Denny’s and so does the indigestion and stomach ache that follow. It’s fitting that the bottle is Pepto-Bismol pink because you’re going to need some to settle your insides.

The idea was a noble one but lacked execution. Maybe bacon and beer were meant to be enjoyed separately. Either way, in both price ($13 a bottle) and taste, Voodoo Doughnut is best to be shared with a group of adventurous friends.

Video courtesy of BeerGeekNation via Youtube.

Advertisements

Share this:

Like this:

Related

3 Responses to “The Swine Brew”

Wow, super interesting beer. It’s too bad there’s actual bacon in this or else I would give it a try. I’ve made maple-bacon cupcakes & maple-bacon-chocolate chip cookies; the cupcakes were good, the cookies were a little over the top. It can be tricky balancing those flavors.

Anyhow, you should do a guest post on my blog sometime if you want– I’ve def. got more than a few interesting beers to try.

Wow, super interesting beer. Too bad there is real bacon in it or I would totally give it a try. I’ve made maple-bacon cupcakes & maple-bacon-chocolate chip cookies before; the cupcakes were good, the cookies were over the top. It can be tricky balancing those flavors.

If you’re interested, you should do a guest post on my blog. I’ve def got a few interesting beers to try.